Michael D Higgins (Galway West, Labour)
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Question 50: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs his views on the Papal Nuncio being the dean of the diplomatic corps while it is the case elsewhere that the longest serving ambassador fills such a position; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46850/09]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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Question 245: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs his views on the need for the dean or head of the diplomatic corps to be the longest serving ambassador resident in the State; if he supports the Papal Nuncio continuing as dean or head of he diplomatic corps; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47016/09]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I would propose to take Questions Nos. 50 and 245 together.

The position of Dean of the diplomatic corps is a ceremonial one. The Dean leads and represents the diplomatic corps on certain State occasions. The longstanding practice whereby the Papal Nuncio assumes the position of Dean of the diplomatic corps is in full accordance with the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations of 1961 and is followed by a majority of EU Member States, including Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, France, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Portugal, Malta and Italy, as well as by Switzerland and many other countries around the world.